Acetylene gas generator



March 29, 1966 L. E. GARCIA ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 24, 3.962

9a ma 9 5 y INVBNTOR 7 E0/:a0 GAecvA ATTORNEY March 29, E, GARCIA ACETYLENE GAS GENERATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 24, 1962 l INVENTOR E0/@@p @glee/,4

BY Ma/.IW

ATTORNEY United States arent @frire 3,243,271 ACETYLENE GAS GENERATR Leopoid E. Garcia, 13.0. Box 111, Bernalillo, N. Mex. Filed May 24, 1962, Ser. No. 197,428 18 Claims. (Cl. it-53.3)

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in acetylene gas generators, and more particularly to such improvements in a portable -generator for field operations in welding, cutting and heating of metals.

In various operations, it is desirable that the apparatus be readily portable and easily manipulated at the :area of operation. Necessarily, therefore, such apparatus should be lightweight and compact with all the essential mechanic-al parts incorporated in a single unit which should be easily and quickly controlled by hand. However, since such generators are of a portable type, safety features must be included for protection of the operator.

These acetylene gas generators must be operated with care. They cannot ibe operated with complete neglect. Most generators of this type include safety valves of one type or another to release excess pressure above a predetermined limit. However, in addition to releasing excess pressure for the protection of the operator, it is also desirable to prevent any explosion resulting from internally generated excessive heat. For example, each time Ia new charge of calcium carbide is added, the w-ater must also be changed. To allow a generator to continue to feed the carbide into spent water, only makes a thicker sludge which continues to generate heat until it iinally reaches an explosive temperature. T-he conventional pressure rele-ase valves do not protect the operator against the possibility of spontaneous explosion resulting from the generation of excessive heat. This condition may exist even though the pressure valves may continue to release excessive pressure.

With the above in mind, one of the principal objects of the present invention is to provide a generator having heat responsive means to stop the production of the acetylene gas when a predetermined temperature may be reached within the apparatus.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved form of heat-responsive valve operating to shut olf the supply of carbide to the water supply 'at a predetermined temperature limit.

A further object of the invention is to provide a generator of the above type in which the gas pressure may be cont-rolled by an improved form of pressure selector mechanism capable of relatively ine adjustment.

A still further object of the invention is to provide in association with the pressure selector mechanism an improved f-orm of valve rod functioning as a gas passage to the back pressure or ash arrester.

The invention still further aims to provide an acetylene gas generator of relatively simple and economical construction e-mbodying in a single unit, adapted for attachment to -a water supply tank, the essential ymechanical parts and also safety devices to relieve excessive pressure and to prevent further production of the gas when the heat within the apparatus reaches a predetermined limit.

The above and other objects of the invention will in part be obvious and will be hereinafter more fully pointed Out.

In the 'accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional view taken through the hopper and feed control unit with a fragmentary showing in section of the flipper portion of the generating chamber to which the device is attached with the heat responsive control mea-ns supported thereby within the chamber;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation of the latching plate to hold the feed control lever in adjusted positions;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view, partly in section, showing the position of the heat responsive means in its full line open position, corresponding to the position shown in FIG. 1, and in its dotted line closed position;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken substantially along the line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary elevation showing a modified form of a heat responsive control means;

FIG. 6 is a similar fragmentary elevation showing a further modified Iform of heat responsive control means; and

FIG. 7 is a similar fragmentary elevation showing a still furthe-r modified `fo-rrn of Iheat responsive control means.

Referring more in detail to the dr-awings and at this time to FIGS. 1 and 2, the hopper is illustrated as comprising a container 10, preferably cylindrical in shape, having a conical bottom 12 terminating in a threaded end portion 14 and having a discharge opening 16 therein. The upper end 17 of the hopper is apertured as at 18, and a diaphragm 20 closes this aperture. A spout 22 is provided to penmit llin-g of the hopper with a suitable quantity of carbide and may be closed by a cap 23. The flow of carbide through discharge opening 16 is controlled yby valve means such las a discharge valve 24 on the lower end of a hollow rod 26 'having the upper end thereof extending through diaphragm 20 and secured thereto in suitable manner. Mounted on container 10 over aperture 18 is an inverted substantially U-shaped bracket Z8 carrying clamping ring portion 29, which overlies the marginal periphery of diaphragm 20 and is held `irrnly against the diaphragm by spring 30. These springs are held under compression by headed bolts 31 threaded through the clamping ring and the top of the container 10.

A lever 32 has a pivotal connection, as at 33, with one arm of the U-shaped bracket 28. The opposite end of the lever projects through an opening 34 in a plate portion 35 for-ming the other leg of the bracket. A notched plate 36 is connected -to t-he plate portion by screw 37 and slot 3S means permitting vertical adjustment of the notched plate 36 with respect to the plate portion 35. The notched plate 36 includes an upper notch 36a, an intermediate notch 36h and a lower notch 36o and the lever 32 may be selectively positioned in any of these notches.

An intermediate portion of the lever 32 is connected by means of a spring mechanism to the Ihollow valve rod 26 for effecting vertical adjustment of the rod and the valve member 24 at the lower end thereof. This spring mechanism includes .a bottom substantially S-shaped leaf spring 40 having one end 40a thereof fixed to the rod 26 adjacent rits connection with the diaphragm 20. A cooperating and substantially similar but oppositely positioned S-shape-d leaf spring 42 has a loose pivotal connection, as at 43, with the intermediate portion of the lever 32. The portions of the two leaf springs 40, 42 adjacency are connected by a further loose pivotal connection 44 and the free ends of the leaf springs are spaced from one another to receive a coil compression spring 46 encircling an adjusting screw and nut means 47 by which the tension of the spring m-ay be varied as the relative positions of the adjacent ends of the leaf springs are varied.

It will be understood that the above described spring mechanism forms the connection between the lever 32 and the valve rod 26. With the lever 32 positioned in the uppermost notch 36a, the valve 24 will be closed. With the lever 32 positioned in the intermediate notch 36b,

the valve rod 26 is positioned at a medium pressure position, for example, about seven pounds per square inch with the valve 24 partially open. With the lever positioned in the lowermost notch 36C, the valve rod 26 is positioned in the high pressure position, for example, about fteen pounds per square inch with the valve 24 fully open. Thus, while the notches provide an olf position and two pressure positions, that is, the medium and high pressure positions, the selective positioning of the valve rod 26 may be further adjusted by selective shifting of the notched plate 36 and also by selective predetermining of the compression of the spring mechanism between the free ends 401), 42b of the leaf springs 40, 42, lrespectively. Thus, pressure of the spring connecting mechanism on the diaphragm is regulated by the selected latched position of the lever 32, that is, when the lever 32 is in the intermediate position, the diaphragm 20 is responsive to a lower gas pressure than when the leve-r is in the lowermost position. In either position, press-ure exceeding that to which the lever is Set will actuate the diaphragm 20 and clamping ring portion 29 to perm-it escape of excess pressure through the opening 18. There is thus provided a safety valve in which the diaphragm 20 and clamping ring portion 29 will be lifted in response to a predetermined pressure within the hopper to permit the escape of gas therefrom. Should caking of the carbide occur around the valve 24 or in the discharge opening 16, the lever 32 may be shifted out of a notch in the plate 36 and moved vertically up and down in the opening 34 provided in the plate portion 35 of the bracket in order to loosen the caking accumulation.

A back pressure or ash arrester is attached in suitable manner to the side of the hopper. This arrester includes a tube 48 disposed either interiorly or exteriorly thereof. This tube opens near the bottom of the arrester tank 50 and is connected at its uppermost end by a flexible hose 52 to the hollow valve tube 26. Water may be supplied through a suitable lling opening to a suitable level in the arrester tank above the bottom opening of the tube 48. Gas issuing from the open end of the tube 48 bubbles through the water and into the upper part of the arrester tank 50 so that it will flow through an outlet pipe 54 and coupling 55 into a gas feed line 56 leading to a torch o-r the like. A pressure gauge 58 is attached to the coupling. As described in my prior Patent No. 2,773,754, issued December 1l, 1956, the dimensioning and positioning of the outlet pipe 54 with respect to the arrester tank 50 is such that the Iapparatus may be laid on its side or inverted Without danger of water entering the gas outlet pipe 54 and the tube 48 associated with the arrester tank 50 may be arranged So that water is prevented from flowing into the -generator tank 60 to which the assembly thus far described is attached.

The assembly of container 10 and back pressure arrester tank 50 are attached to any conventional receptacle 60 which receives a quantity of water into which the carbide from the hopper is fed in accordance with the set position of the valve. If desired, the coupling 62 connecting the container 10 and tank 60 may be provided with a second pressure release valve as shown in my aforesaid Patent No. 2,773,754. However, this additional pressure release valve is not herewith shown. This coupling 62 is threaded, bolted or otherwise attached to the end of the container 10 and is threaded, bolted or otherwise attached into a conventional tank opening 63 and supports within the tank 60 a temperature responsive valve mechanism 64 which will be described below.

For a description o-f the temperature responsive valve mechanism 64, reference is now made to FIGS. 3 and 4. For purposes of illustration, this valve mechanism is shown as including a gate or ap valve member 66 having secured thereto a pair of bracket arms 67, 67a which are mounted -by a pivot pin 68 to support brackets 69, 69a, respectively, fixed to the depending end of the coupling 62 within the tank 60. A hook 70 is also secured to the depending end of the coupling 62 to receive the hooked end 72a of a squeezing spring 72. The opposite end 72b of the spring 72 is also hooked to engage a similar hook member 73. This hook member 73 is carried by an arm 74 pivotally mounted by a pin 75 tothe bracket members 67, 67a. The gate valve 66 carries a mounting bracket 76 to which is connected a horizontally disposed ternperature responsive bellows 78 having its operating stern 79 extending through and cottered to the arm 74. Pins 80,' 80a on the brackets 67 67a, respectively, limit the pivotal movement of the arm 74. The pivotal mounting 75 for the arm 74 is substantially directly below the pivotal mounting 68 for the gate valve in the open full line position thereof. With the gate valve in the illustrated full line open position, the arm 74 is held by the spring 72 in engagement with the pin 80a. This is the contracted position of the heat responsive bellows 78 and the stem 79. The free ends of the brackets 67, 67a will engage the adjacent side surface of the coupling 62 to limit the o-utward movement of the gate valve 66. Should the temperature within the generator tank 60 rise above a predetermined degree, depending upon the selection of the bellows mechanism, the tendency is for the bellows 78 to expand and shift its operating stem '79 in a clockwise direction, as viewed in FIG. 3. This movement of the operating stern 79 will shift the `arm 74 to a position in engagement with the stop pin 80. In so shifting the arm 74, the end 72b of the spring y72 attached to the hook 73 will likewise be shifted to the opposite side of the pivotal mounting 68 for the gate valve. With the squeezing spring 72 thus positioned, it will react between the hooks 70, 73 to shift the gate valve to the dotted line position closing the end of the coupling 62 within the tank 60. In such closed position, flow of carbide through the coupling 62 is stopped even though the valve 24 may continue to remain open. Thus, the generation of gas within the tank 60 will also be stopped.

In FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, there are shown modified forms of temperature responsive control means differing from that shown in FIGS. l and 3 primarily in the manner of release of the gate valve for closing the end of the coupling 62. Thus, in FIG. 5, a bracket 82 is secured to the coupling 62a to depend therefrom. This bracket includes a pivot 83 for pivotally mounting the gate valve 84 which is normally urged to the dotted line closed position by a coil spring 85 encircling the pivot 83 and connected to the gate valve and to the xed bracket 82. Additional brackets 86, 86a project from the bracket 82 and serve to mount the temperature responsive bellows 87 land its operating stem 88. The end of the operating stem 88 is directed toward the gate valve 84 and has a hooked end 89 adapted to engage the gate valve in its full line open position to hold the same in this open position against the tendency of the coil spring 85 to close the valve. When the temperature within the tank reaches a predetermined limit expanding the bellows 87, the operating stem 88 is rectilinearly shifted to the dotted line position where the hooked end 89 releases the gate valve, and will then be automatically closed by the coil spring 85.

In FIG. 6, a bracket 90 is mounted on the coupling 62b and has the gate valve 91 pivoted thereto as at 92. A tension spring 93 connected to the coupling 62b and the gate valve serves to normally urge and hold the gate valve to its dotted line closed position. An additional bracket 94 projects from the bracket 90 and carries the heat responsive bellows 95 and its operating stem 96. The operating stem is pivotally connected as at 97 to a trip lever 98 which, in turn, is pivoted as at 99 to the end of the bracket 90. The hooked end 98a of the trip lever engages a hook 100 on the gate valve 91 when the bellows 95 is contracted so as to hold the gate valve in its full line open position. However, when the temperature within the tank is elevated to a predetermined limit,

the bellows 95 will expand and cause corresponding movement of the operating stem 96 which will pivot the trip lever 98 about its pivot 99 and release the interengagement between the hooks 98a, 100. This releases the gate valve 91 so that the spring 93 urges the same to its closed position preventing further supply of carbide to the tank.

In FIG. 7, the lower end of the coupling conduit 62e has attached thereto a bracket 102 having an elongated depending arm portion 103. The gate valve 104 is pivotally connected to the bracket 102 by a pin and slot connection permitting limited vertical movement of the gate in the illustrated open position. The pin 106 is carried by an angled portion 104a of the valve 104 and mounts the valve in a slot 107 in the bracket 102. However, the slot could be formed in the angled portion of the valve in which case the pin would be carried by the bracket. The bracket 102 carries an additional outwardly extending bracket 108 carrying a screw and nut adjustable mounting means 111 for the heat responsive bellows 109. The stem 110 of the bellows extends through a guide 112 adjacent the end of the depending bracket portion 103. The tension spring 114 is connected to the coupling conduit and to the gate valve 104 and tends to normally urge the gate valve toward its closed position, but in its open position the spring tends to shift the gate valve vertically upwardly with the pin 106 riding in the slot 107. The opposite end of the gate valve has a hook portion 115 which engages the end of the depending arm portion 103, as shown in full lines, so that the gate valve is latched in its open position. When the temperature rises to a predetermined degree, depending upon the setting of the adjustable mounting means 111, the bellows 109 will expand and shift the operating stem 110 into engagement with the hooked end 115 and depress the gate valve downwardly to the dotted line position where the hooked end 115 disengages the end of the depending arm portion 103 and the spring 114 will then immediately urge the gate valve 104 to its dotted line closed position, closing the end of the coupling conduit 62C.

In operation, the valve 24 at the end of the hollow valve operating rod 26 is set in a selected open position by manipulation of the lever 32 to one of the notches 3612 or 36e in the plate 36 for operation of the apparatus at the selected pressure for the gas to issue. Carbide from the container will pass through the Valve opening 16 and into the Water contained in the tank 60 for generation of the gas. It is understood that the gate valve 66 (or the gate valves 84, 91 of FIGS. 5 and 6, respectively) will be in the open position permitting the carbide to pass into the tank 60. Gas generated in the tank 60 will pass upwardly through the open coupling conduit 62 and through the hollow valve rod 26 and the exible hose 52 into the conduit 48 leading to the bottom of the arrester tank 50. The gas will then bubble up through the water contained in the tank 50 and pass out through the conduit 54 and delivery conduit 56 to a particular work station.

If excessive pressure develops within the apparatus, that is, pressure exceeding that to which the lever 32 is preset, this excess pressure will cause outward movement of the diaphragm and clamping ring 29 to permit escape thereof around the top of the container 10. Raising of the diaphragm 20 due to such excessive pressure will also tend to shift the valve 24 toward a closed position with respect to the valve opening 16. As previously indicated, pressure release means may be provided at other locations in the apparatus if desired.

As a further safety feature, provision is made for closing the coupling conduit 62 if the temperature within the tank 60 rises above a predetermined setting to which the temperature responsive bellows 78 (or the bellows 87, 95 of FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, respectively) has been set. According to the form of temperature responsive means shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the bellows 78 will expand as the temperature increases and will ultimately shift the lever 74 in a clockwise direction to a point where the end of the spring 72 engaged beneath the hook 73 will pass t0 the otherside of the pivot 75 in which position the squeezing action of the spring 72 will shift the gate Valve 66 to its dotted line closed position as shown in FIG. 3. In like manner, expansion of the bellows 87 in FIG. 5 resulting from excessive temperature will shift the stem 88 to the dotted line position releasing the hooked end 89 from engagement with the gate valve so that the spring will rotate the gate to the illustrated dotted line closed position. Also, with reference to FIG. 6, expansion of the bellows as the result of excessive temperature will shift the stem 96 and pivot the trip lever 98 about its pivot point 99 to release the interengaged hooks and allow the gate valve 91 to be urged to the dotted line closed position by the spring 93. This will stop feeding of the carbide through the coupling conduit 62 to the tank 60 regardless of whether the valve 24 remains open. Thus, the gate valve is responsive to excessive temperature Within the tank 60 although suiciently excessive pressure may not have been developed to actuate the safety escape diaphragm 20. A condition of excessive temperature developing within the tank 60 may result from a failure to replenish or renew the supply of water within the tank in which case continued feeding o f the Carbide will raise the temperature such that it may approach a point causing spontaneous combustion and resulting explosion. This closing of the coupling conduit 62 will notify the operator of a condition within the apparatus which requires correction. Thus, the apparatus will cease in operation before the temperature rises to a point where a damaging explosion might result.

While certain forms ofthe invention have been shown for the purposes of illustration, it is to be clearly understood that various changes in the details of construction and arrangements of parts may be employed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A carbide gas generator comprising a water holding tank, a carbide container having the lower eud thereof in communication with said tank to feed carbide to the tank for the generation of carbide gas, delivery means for feeding the generated gas from said tank to a work station, and valve mechanism responsive to temperature within said tank for shutting olf the supply of carbide from the container to the tank whereby to terminate the generation of gas when the temperature exceeds a predetermined limit.

2. A carbide gas generator as claimed in claim 1, wherein pressure release means is provided on the carbide container for the relief of pressure therein above a predetermined limit.

3. A carbide gas generator as claimed in claim 1, wherein valve means disposed between the container and the tank is operable independently of said valve mechanism for controlling the normal supply of carbide to the tank for generation of gas.

4. A carbide gas generator as claimed in claim 3, wherein the delivery means comprises a hollow conduit extending through said container and carrying at the lower end thereof valve means for controlling the normal supply of carbide from said container to said tank.

5. A carbide gas generator as claimed in claim 4, wherein there is provided pressure release means at the upper end of the container for relief of pressure therein above a predetermined limit and through which said conduit extends.

6. A carbide gas generator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the valve mechanism includes a valve member shiftable from an open to a closed position closing communication between the container and the tank, and a temperature responsive device operable to cause shifting of the valve member to closed position.

7. A carbide gas generator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the valve mechanism includes a valve member and means normally holding the same in open position,

a temperature responsive device Aoperable to release the valve member relative to the holding means and spring means for closing the valve member.

8i. A carbide gas generator as claimed in claim 1, wherein the valve mechanism includes a valve member and latch means holding the valve member in open position, a temperature responsive device operable to release the latch means, and spring-means for closing the valve member.

9. A carbide gas generator comprising a water holding tank, a carbide container having the lower end thereof in communication with said tank to feed carbide to the tank for the generation of carbide gas, delivery means in communication with said tank for feeding the generated gas from said tank to a work station exteriorly of said container, a valve mechanism for closing communication between the container and the tank to shut ot the supply of carbide from the container to the tank, means normally holding said valve mechanism in open position, spring means for urging said valve mechanism to closed position, and a device responsive to temperature in said tank for shifting the holding means to a position permitting the spring means to quickly close the valve mechanism.

10. A carbidev gas generator as claimed in claim 9, wherein the delivery means includes a hollow conduit extending through said container.

11. A carbide gas generator as claimed in claim 10, wherein the conduit carries valve means at the lower end thereof for controlling the normal supply of carbide to the tank for generation of gas.

12. A carbide gas generator as claimed in claim 9, wherein there is provided pressure release means at the top of the container for the relief of pressure therein above a predetermined limit, and wherein the delivery means extends through the pressure release means.

13. A carbide gas generator as claimed in claim 9, wherein the spring means comprises an over-center spring also holding the Valve mechanism in open position, with the temperature responsive device shifting the spring to a position for closing the valve.

14. A carbide gas generator as claimed in claim 13, wherein the holding means and temperature responsive device are carried by the valve mechanism.

15. A carbide gas generator as claimed in claim 9, wherein the means holding the valve mechanism in open position comprises mutually interengaging latch means between the valve mechanism and the temperature responsive device. v

16. A carbide container adapted for communicating attachment with a water holding tank for generating carbide gas; and comprising coupling means affording communication between the container and water holding tank, a pressure release mechanism on said container for relieving pressure exceeding a predetermined limit, valve means controlling normal communication of carbide from the container to the tank, and valve mechanism attached to said container and positioned for response to temperature developed in the tank for sealing communication between the container and the tank when the temperature exceeds a predetermined limit.

17. A carbide container as claimed in claim 16, wherein the valve mechanism includes a valve member spring biased to closed position with latch means holding the valve member in open position, and temperature responsive means for releasing the latch means when the temperature exceeds a predetermined limit.

1S. A carbide container as claimed in claim 16, wherein a pressure selector lever is pivotally mounted exteriorly of the container, and wherein a hollow conduit carries said valve means at one end and is connected at its opposite end to a delivery conduit and to said selector lever through a spring mechanism Comprising a pair of sinuous leaf spring elements pivotally interconnected intermediate the ends thereof with one end of one spring element connected to the selector lever and with the corresponding end of the other spring element connected to the hollow conduit.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,462,623 7/ 1923 Plumley 48-43 X 1,627,581 5/1927 Swift 1S-53.3 2,202,848 6/1940 Geiger 4853.3 2,698,022 12/1954 Fahnoe l37-468 X 2,698,022 12/1954 Fa-hnioe 137-468 X 2,773,754 12/1956 Garcia 422-533 2,956,537 10/1960 Smith 137-457 X MORRIS O. WOLK, Primary Examiner. 

1. A CARBIDE GAS GENERATOR COMPRISING A WATER HOLDING TANK, A CARBIDE CONTAINER HAVING THE LOWER END THEREOF IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID TANK TO FEED CARBIDE TO THE TANK FOR THE GENERATION OF CARBIDE GAS, DELIVERY MEANS FOR FEEDING THE GENERATED GAS FROM SAID TANK TO A WORK STATION, AND VALVE MECHANISM RESPONSIVE TO TEMPERATURE WITHIN SAID TANK FOR SHUTTING OFF THE SUPPLY OF CARBIDE FROM THE CON- 